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Post by rainyday on Mar 13, 2009 16:02:51 GMT -5
Hello Ladies, I really need your help. I just got off my 3rd fresh IVF cycle with a BFN. I am devastated beyond words. I need to embark on a new path and distract myself from the ache. So I have decided that I need a new plan, a new roadmap. I want to take care of my underlying issues: severe endo and PCOS. I am hoping that if I take care of these, get all my hormones in balance, then I will have a good chance of getting pg naturally. Here is what I am thinking: 1) IR diet as strict as possible 2) herbs and other natural treatments. 3) Acupuncture 4) exercise and weight loss ( I need to loose a lot of weight) 5) Not thinking about ttc until I follow this plan strictly for a few months. I need your advice on using herbs, which ones, how long etc. I have read old threads, but some are really old ( two yrs?) and many have no updates from posters about how that particular herb or cream worked for them over the years etc. I know many ladies have used castor oil packs, have you kept up with them and have they helped you? How about pills like vitex, black cohosh, fertiliaid etc. Has anyone used them over a long term like 6 months? Good results, not so good results? Anything else you guys can think of. I am going out and getting a new BB thermometer today. I am highly undisciplined about getting up at a particular time everyday, so I know that it is going to be a struggle. All help is appreciated!
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Post by ouchy on Mar 13, 2009 16:09:26 GMT -5
Sorry for the BFN. Get the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. Also, a book by Jack Challem on "Syndrome X." That describes the insulin resistance diet to a T and will make it not seem like a diet, jsut a healthy lifestyle. I'm guessing your PCOS is playing more of an infertility role than endo. I bet with a healthy insulin resistance diet for the PCOS and learnign your fertility signs, you'll be good to go! Pay close attention to the luteal phase of your cycle for proper implantation. I think IVF is truly needed in just a very few cases.
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Post by ouchy on Mar 13, 2009 16:10:07 GMT -5
Oh. And keep your chin up! You can do this!
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Post by rainyday on Mar 16, 2009 16:26:20 GMT -5
Hi Ouchy, I have read TCOYF and really love it. Maybe I need to read it again just as a refresher! Yes, as for insulin resistance diet, I have already started on low carb, avoid wheat, eat and drink organic as much as possible. I have also given up on soda, except on weekends (hehe).
DO you really think that PCOS might be a bigger problem than endo? My ob-gyn who did the lap said that since my uterus has folded in a bit and become heart shaped, my only option is IVF. I do not however 100% agree because we did get pg on our own. But its been more than two yrs since then and my lap. I have had three freshc IVF cycles since then. I am not sure if my tubes are still free and there is no blockage anywhere. I guess I need a HSG again just to make sure. The only issue is to get the insurance to pay for it since they do not cover fertility treatments. sigh.... I hate insurance. We used to have such great insurance till DH changed his job. Oh well.
I remember some one mentioning that you should not take Vitex for more than six months. Can you (that someone) tell me why? Also can we take vitex and natural progesterone cream together?
Has nayone heard about Shatavari? Its an ayurvedic herb and is recommended for fertiltiy. However it is phytoestrogenic. There are so many conflicting viewpoints about phytoestrogens that it does get confusing. BTW, after my last IVF cycle, my periods got really loopy and looooong. so I took progestin to start AF and took Shatavari from day one to day 15. I got wicked O cramps, ewcm etc. So I think that I did O and did bd on the right days. However we did not get pg. That makes me think that maybe it is the endo that might be interfering someway...either the tubes maybe blocked or all the blood is eroding the egg quality.
Please, if anyone has any other recommendations, please feel free to suggest some!~
P.S: Ouchy, I read that you are not longer the moderator. I hope that you still going to be around each day! You are too valuable to us and all the ladies with endo looking for support!
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Post by rainyday on Mar 16, 2009 16:28:08 GMT -5
Also wanted to add that I should be cahrting soon! It is hard to wake up at a particular time everyday!
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Post by Karen on Mar 16, 2009 16:47:04 GMT -5
I know nothing about ttc as I'm happily single, but how's the acupuncture going? I've tried it myself and found some relief but not enough to justify the cost at the moment. I wonder if it'll help your endo symptoms/ttc?
Oh, and good luck! ;D
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Post by ouchy on Mar 16, 2009 17:39:29 GMT -5
My OBGYN/fertility specialist said that unless endo is completely and severely mangling your tubes, messing up the alignment so that the microscopic egg can't get into them, he rarely sees infertility due to endo. That is a great thing! I'm back as a mod. Anyawy, good luck. You can do this. Start charting (I never wake up at the same time. And I still chart. I even flew to a country with a 10-hour time difference and was able to chart.), and you'll get a better idea of your cycle and luteal phase. I can say that I do not know much about different uteri and how that impacts implantation, but I do know of a lady with a heart shaped uetrus who has twins!
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Post by anneny on Mar 16, 2009 18:24:07 GMT -5
There's also the new Fertility Diet book, which a friend of mine followed successfully, and Fertility Cycles and Nutrition, which has been around for a while and is reliable. I haven't followed either personally, but they both have good reputations.
BTW, I think it's beautiful and poignant that your uterus is shaped like a heart. You love your babies so much, your womb had to look like a heart. I know it's a medical problem, but what a lovely image!
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Post by ouchy on Mar 16, 2009 18:35:02 GMT -5
I found "Fertility Diet" to conflict with a lot of the insulin resistance diet for PCOS.
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Post by rainyday on Mar 17, 2009 14:18:25 GMT -5
Anenny, that is good way of looking at it! I never thought about it that way. I will check out your book at the library. Olsenka, I did acupuncture a few times about 6 months ago. It felt very relaxing but I did not do it enough times to see if it really made a difference. Ouchy, good to have you back! So I guess it is ok if I do not take temps at the same time everyday?
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